Lets Be Honest Terrible Season No Excuses

All advertisments are hidden for logged in members, why not log in/register?




I've been unimpressed with Adkins. The results have been below par, the performances have generally ranged from very occasionally good to largely indifferent and often absolutely woeful. His transfers have a success rate of about 15%. He continues with Hammond who is so past it it is frightening. He spins games to make them sound a lot better than they actually were and I think he's quite a strange individual.

However, we've rarely been out of the top half, had to sell our best player and not replaced him (I suspect not NA fault), he's had to work with a lot of tosspot players who I think he is slowly weeding out and crucially for me he has the track record at this level. I am also grudgingly impressed with how he's been enthusiastic after that abomination against Southend on Sky, therefore keeping our season alive for a few games, it'll have been easy for the last 4 or 5 games to see us drop to lower mid table and go out with a whimper.

I certainly wouldn't tolerate another 12 months like the one we've just witnessed but all in all I'm prepared to give him the summer to shape his squad ( GET PLAYERS INFORMALLY SIGNED/ DEALS AGREED NOW NOT END OF AUGUST YOU INCOMPETENT TITS). However if it's clear things haven't improved by say November, gerrim aht. That would theoretically still give us a chance of getting out of this truly abysmal and depressing division.
 
SUFC Handsworth said:
At the end of last season, there were obvious deficiencies in the team (big dominant centre half, effective target man and a midfield player with some bite, all three to have decent leadership qualities), we still have those problems but now we've got the ones that Adkins has brought to the club too (see above). He's turned United into a right mess and given the fans, arguably the second worse season in our history.
Click to expand...

There have been four seasons that we have finished below 9th in the third tier 1979-80 (12th), 1980-81 (21st), 1981-82 (1st 4th Div), 1982-83 (11th)
 
We need something of a boost , weve become tepid, in play and to watch
as the OP suggested Adkins has failed to fire the club into action
I wanted so much for him to be a success and take us forward , but for many reasons hes failed
I dont want to chop and change , but it has to be the right man, hes not lit my fire more than hes not lit the clubs
 
I think we should give Adkins until November/December next season. However his scouting process must improve, not just rely on a nod and a wink from his pal from Scunny, Lee Turnbull (whoever he is and and whatever position he does hold).

How many scouts do United have ? what sort of scouting network do we have in place ? If the likes of Woolford and Hammond are the results of this process then god help us. Allegedly Sammon was already signed, sealed and delivered for the season before NA arrived. God forbid if they are the types of player we can expect for next season, if they are then we can expect another season at least in this hellhole of a division.

As many others have quite rightly stated before me, if the likes of Port Vale, Rochdale, Fleetwood, Burton etc, etc can come up with players no one has heard of and turn them into good, solid team players with the odd one turning out to be a match winner then why can't we ? Or is the simple answer to that question have the initials KM ?
 
Barney said:
It's what this club does. It's a losing club with a losing mentality. With supporters with no backbone who quit and sell their season ticket less than a quarter of the season gone
Click to expand...

Fixed it for you
 
SUFC Handsworth said:
Can't comment on why they were subbed in their most recent game (that's one game only btw, ditto Reed, hardly a basis to form a valid view on them as players - Sharp was pants yesterday, does that make him shit???) and I'm basing my comments on what I've seen of them at the Lane, when they have generally done well over a period of time, especially against teams from a higher division. That would suggest to me they are more than capable players, and certainly much better options than Sammon and Woolford, plus quite a few in the first xi. DdG has been in excellent goal scoring form in recent weeks but doesn't get a sniff of the first team. When the other option is Sammon then that's poor management from Adkins.

I've given a more than balanced view on Adkins, his tenure at the Lane as been awful - players he's brought in poor and overpaid, motivation of his team poor, style of play shocking, lurching from one formation to another (he stumbled upon 2 banks of 4 that got some decent results then dropped it midway through the home draw v Swindon when we were 1-0 up and never went back too it), dropping players who had been playing well for no reason whatsoever (it's happened to Coutts, Whiteman and Reed), his blinkered obsession with signing Dan Burn was poor management when he didn't have any alternative options as back up. Let's be reet the only reason we're keeping an underwhelming failure as manager is due to his past CV and the fact that United have sacked a few managers over the last few years.

At the end of last season, there were obvious deficiencies in the team (big dominant centre half, effective target man and a midfield player with some bite, all three to have decent leadership qualities), we still have those problems but now we've got the ones that Adkins has brought to the club too (see above). He's turned United into a right mess and given the fans, arguably the second worse season in our history.
Click to expand...

I don't necessarily agree with all you have put Handsworth but a good reasoned response, thanks.
 
Disappointing season is an understatement.

I am hoping that United are now prepping targets so we can hit the ground running this summer. Previously managerial changes/play off failures have been blamed for issues with transfer targets. Assuming Adkins doesn't go which I don't believe he will, there should be zero excuses...until the inevitable money issue! Yes cynical!
 
Bish_Is_God said:
Disappointing season is an understatement.

I am hoping that United are now prepping targets so we can hit the ground running this summer. Previously managerial changes/play off failures have been blamed for issues with transfer targets. Assuming Adkins doesn't go which I don't believe he will, there should be zero excuses...until the inevitable money issue! Yes cynical!
Click to expand...

So do you think we have 'prepped' targets when every other year we are still pissing around on deadline day?
 
Going back to the OP then not true. Crewe have had a terrible season.
 



alcoblade said:
Oh good, I haven't read a " his interviews make me cringe" post in a good 43 minutes

UTB
Click to expand...
Cmon Alco, surely every fan knows what a manager say to the press in public is far more important that what he says to the players in private.
I thought that was blindingly obvious
 
In the past, the name "Sheffield United", would have attracted players, but all these years in the wilderness will have changed that, this is where a committed owner (or owners) should explain the vision for the future of the club, where we want to be, how we get there, etc,.
 
Ade Nough said:
I think we should give Adkins until November/December next season. However his scouting process must improve, not just rely on a nod and a wink from his pal from Scunny, Lee Turnbull (whoever he is and and whatever position he does hold).

How many scouts do United have ? what sort of scouting network do we have in place ? If the likes of Woolford and Hammond are the results of this process then god help us. Allegedly Sammon was already signed, sealed and delivered for the season before NA arrived. God forbid if they are the types of player we can expect for next season, if they are then we can expect another season at least in this hellhole of a division.

As many others have quite rightly stated before me, if the likes of Port Vale, Rochdale, Fleetwood, Burton etc, etc can come up with players no one has heard of and turn them into good, solid team players with the odd one turning out to be a match winner then why can't we ? Or is the simple answer to that question have the initials KM ?
Click to expand...

Sheffield United had no permanent scouting network in place before the appointments of Clough or Adkins. We had a few scouts who do a bit of freelance work for the club, but no permanent "SUFC" scouts . Adkins has already started revamping the whole scouting network. I wrote in more detail about this on another thread. The signing of Sammon, Woolford and Hammond weren't the results of our current scouting network but predate it.
 
Bish_Is_God said:
Disappointing season is an understatement.

I am hoping that United are now prepping targets so we can hit the ground running this summer. Previously managerial changes/play off failures have been blamed for issues with transfer targets. Assuming Adkins doesn't go which I don't believe he will, there should be zero excuses...until the inevitable money issue! Yes cynical!
Click to expand...
nopigfansintown said:
Sheffield United had no permanent scouting network in place before the appointments of Clough or Adkins. We had a few scouts who do a bit of freelance work for the club, but no permanent "SUFC" scouts . Adkins has already started revamping the whole scouting network. I wrote in more detail about this on another thread. The signing of Sammon, Woolford and Hammond weren't the results of our current scouting network but predate it.
Click to expand...
I'm told that Southampton had/have a contact in all the local schools and junior clubs. It has paid off. Hope Adkins will replicate that.
 
Sirius said:
I'm told that Southampton had/have a contact in all the local schools and junior clubs. It has paid off. Hope Adkins will replicate that.
Click to expand...

This is a great point Sirius. Since 2010 Southampton have had a guy called Martin Hunter in charge of the youth development at St Mary's. He holds the UEFA pro licence and when he gives lectures he attracts many of the top managers to listen. Last year he won the FA's Professional Development Phase Coach of the Year.

Now it seems to me when Adkins left and when Pochettino left Southampton were quite happy to see their immediate sidekicks leave at the same time. But one person they seem keen to retain is Hunter as he is crucial in the development of the overall Southampton strategy.

I am sure this guy used to go to Newfield School in the 1960's and early 1970's. Some other Blades may remember him.

There's been a great deal of talk on this board about Wilder and Warnock and others. Unfortunately this is just short termism.

End of the day if 'youth is to have a pathway' then we need to lay down a long term strategy and employ the very best to develop that area.
 
bornablade said:
This is a great point Sirius. Since 2010 Southampton have had a guy called Martin Hunter in charge of the youth development at St Mary's. He holds the UEFA pro licence and when he gives lectures he attracts many of the top managers to listen. Last year he won the FA's Professional Development Phase Coach of the Year.

Now it seems to me when Adkins left and when Pochettino left Southampton were quite happy to see their immediate sidekicks leave at the same time. But one person they seem keen to retain is Hunter as he is crucial in the development of the overall Southampton strategy.

I am sure this guy used to go to Newfield School in the 1960's and early 1970's. Some other Blades may remember him.

There's been a great deal of talk on this board about Wilder and Warnock and others. Unfortunately this is just short termism.

End of the day if 'youth is to have a pathway' then we need to lay down a long term strategy and employ the very best to develop that area.
Click to expand...
This is why I read message boards. For posts like this that are actually informative and well considered.
 
To be fair to Adkins he's done what many mangers have failed to do over our time in league one, bring in a 20+ season striker, and he's just finding his footing.

He will also have a full pre season to prepare
 
BeatleBlade said:
Bolton will be terrible and Charlton don't seem much better. Don't know about MK but they are 10 points off safety so they can't be all that great.
Click to expand...

My feeling is the momentum , challenge will come from the teams coming up from league 2 , not coming down from the championship.

Funny how this league1 is either , you are on a roll or you are in a balance flux of consolidation.

UTB
 



boo radley said:
Are you asking us on here to be honest? I doubt you'll get any disagreement on what a shite season this has been. I doubt anyone will give any excuses either. No I might be wrong there the Clough haters will.
Click to expand...



I think we all agree it’s been a shit season. What we might struggle to agree on is the extent that the various factors have contributed to the shitness of the season. For me, Adkins is the least of our problems (and still more asset than problem IMO). Much bigger issues exist above and below.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

W
Referee
2 3
Replies
83
Views
5K
Balham
Balham
BazWainwright
Be honest with yourselves
2 3
Replies
70
Views
3K
Lane Ender
Lane Ender
1973Blade
Time to bring back a familiar face as manager...
Replies
3
Views
508
Lightsoot
L
Silkblade
Tyrese Campbell
Replies
4
Views
898
Ndiayewillalwaysloveyou
N
C
Goal difference may be important
2
Replies
30
Views
1K
YES Blade
YES Blade

All advertisments are hidden for logged in members, why not log in/register?

All advertisments are hidden for logged in members, why not log in/register?

Back
Top Bottom